Thom Hartmann: Wow...The middle class isn't going down without a fight

[thomhartmann]

Have you noticed the large number of CEOs going on TV to give their opinions on how to fix the debt? We've heard from Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein who suggested raising the retirement age for Social Security and Medicare. We also heard from AETNA CEO Mark Bertolini who also argued for raising the retirement age and means-testing Social Security and Medicare benefits. In fact 71 CEOs have joined together as part of a “Fix the Debt” coalition to call for cuts to social safety net programs, instead of higher taxes on rich people like themselves.

And, as the Institute for Policy Studies discovered, there’s good reason why these CEOs want to target social safety nets like Social Security…it’s because they don’t need them. They’re all sitting on massive retirement assets, averaging over $9 million each. Lloyd Blankfein himself has nearly $12 million in retirement assets. It’s easy to call for cuts to Social Security when you know you won’t need it. Well, in Washington, DC this morning - this "Fix the Debt" coalition invited Republican Senator Rob Portman for a panel discussion on how the debt can be fixed on the backs of the working class without rich CEOs sacrificing a single penny.

Unfortunately for all those CEOs - today's panel didn't go according to plan - just watch the middle class fight back!

The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann on RT TV & FSTV "live" 9pm and 11pm check www.thomhartmann.com/tv for local listings

[KansDem]

1. So, did Richie Rich get arrested?

[msongs]

2. unfortunately, democrats are just as complicit as portman nt